The wife of a Los Angeles father who drowned while rescuing their autistic son from a lake is speaking out about her husband's final moments—and the questions she says still have no answers.
Juan Andrade, 55, lost his life on April 14 after jumping into the lake at Lincoln Park in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood to save his 14-year-old son, who had entered the water on his own, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Andrade got his son to safety—but never made it out himself. He became trapped near the fountain area and was unable to continue swimming, Michelle said.
For Michelle, the loss is still incomprehensible.
"To lose somebody, there are no words to explain," she said.
She is also left with lingering doubts about what exactly went wrong. Her husband was no stranger to the water—he had even saved a friend from drowning years earlier.
"I was in shock because he knows how to swim very well," Michelle said.
Now a widow, Michelle is raising the couple's three children on her own. But through the grief, her view of her husband is unwavering.
"He was a hero because not every dad would die for his kids," she said.
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. No additional details have been released. NTD News has contacted LAPD for a status update.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Michelle's niece has raised over $20,000 toward a $25,000 goal to help the family cover funeral costs and living expenses. The niece said she is handling funeral payments directly, with remaining funds going to the Andrade family.